The Town of Hampden Select Board on March 4 discussed logistics, costs and technical reviews related to a proposed move of administrative offices and library functions into TWB, aiming for occupancy in the fall.

Staff said a realistic target for relocation would be October and that the town is collecting moving estimates: one moving company provided a straight‑move estimate of about $50,000 to relocate administrative offices and library furniture (excluding books and shelving), while a more comprehensive move that included packing and moving books was estimated at about $70,000. A third moving company was scheduled for a site visit to produce a third estimate.

The board also reviewed building systems and upgrades. Valley Communications provided an initial consult on electronic locks and cameras; Secure Energy performed an HVAC audit and will perform a lighting audit at TWB and at the senior center. Staff reported older lighting fixtures across classrooms (roughly 30 fixtures per classroom in current configuration) and said one lighting vendor estimated a retrofit could reduce that to about nine fixtures per classroom, producing energy and maintenance savings.

Solar and metering concerns: staff and board members discussed rooftop versus parking‑lot solar. Contractors advised capturing a full year of electricity usage at TWB before sizing a rooftop system because utility net‑metering and contractor sizing often target roughly 60% of measured load; board members warned that some installers size systems conservatively and that parking‑lot solar adds structural and snow‑plow complications. National Grid net‑metering and sizing practices were referenced in the discussion.

Other facilities topics: staff recommended creating a facilities manager position to oversee town buildings and coordinate repairs, energy upgrades and maintenance; the board discussed whether that role should cover TWB, the senior center and other town properties. Staff also noted an existing $100,000 placeholder appropriation from a prior special town meeting that remains largely unused except for the septic assessment. The board directed staff to obtain final cost estimates, security and access‑control quotes, and moving bids to include in the warrant before the town meeting.

No formal vote was taken at the March 4 meeting; board members said they will return with finalized cost numbers and draft warrant language.